Errol Cockfield moves out of press office

Errol Cockfield, press secretary to Gov. David Paterson, will be leaving the press office, confirms an administration source. He will likely move on to the intergovernmental affairs office, said the source. The intergovernmental affairs office is headed up by Marty Mack, who reclaimed his old job as Deputy Secretary of Intergovernmental Affairs in February. (For the record: Cathy Calhoun is senior adviser on intergovernmental affairs, replacing Mike Schell, who left last November.)

Cockfield has been in the role of press secretary since the Spitzer administration, after Spitzer Communications Director Darren Dopp left government service in the wake of the travel records scandal. Press Secretary Christine Anderson took over Dopp’s position, and Cockfield moved from the Empire State Development Corporation to the Executive branch.

When David Paterson ascended to become governor, Cockfield became the face of the press operation, traveling with the governor around the state and managing the question/answer portions of press conferences. Because the governor is legally blind, as a matter of procedure, the press officer calls on reporters to prevent confusion during press conferences.

In recent weeks, Cockfield has had a less visible role during the governor’s press events in Albany.